Pump



llg- 29, 1944. H. c. BRuGGl-:R 2,355,733

PUMP

Filed Feb. 12, 1943 /f/ IIAVIIIIIIIIIlI/lll INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP Hans C. Brugger, Orangeburg, N. hY.

Application February 12, 1943, Serial No. 475,598

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pumps of the type having a pumping chamber which is sealed against the operating mechanism of the pump by a flexible member to permit the handling of liquids which otherwise would have a corrosive or damaging e'ect on the operating mechanism of the pump, such as acid, fluid containing an abrasive, sand, or slush, and the like.

More particularly the invention relates to diaphragm pumps in which a flexible diaphragm is employed to form a pumping chamber of variable volume.

In pumps of this type difficulties are encountered by foreign bodies carried in the liquid, tending to wear out, obstruct, or otherwise interfere with the proper functioning of the valves which control the inlet and the outlet of the pumping chamber. I

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a pump in which the valves are protected from wear and damage and in which foreign bodies may be removed from the valves without access t the interior of the valves. the pumping chamber, or the conduits leading to and from the pump.

In carrying out this object the invention further provides a pump having. positively operated valves, that is,` valves which are directly actuated by the power means oscillating the flexible member which produces the pumping action.

More specifically, the invention provides an improved pump having a hydraulically operated diaphragm in which the valves are operated from the same drive shaft which actuates a cylinder and piston arrangement for producing pressure fluctuation on the diaphragm through the medium of a non-compressible hydraulic uid.

The invention further provides a pump in which a portion of the pumping diaphragm is mechanically moved to seal and open the inlet and outlet of ports of the pump. Further objects of the invention are to provide a pump al1 of the moving parts vof which are immersed in-an operating liquid to reduce friction together with automatic means for replenishing lost operating fluid and removing air bubbles from the operating chamber.

'I'ne invention further provides an improved pump of rugged construction which is inexpensive to manufacture, reliable in operation, and requires a minimum of attendance and repair.

Further aims, objects and advantages of this invention will appear from a consideration of the description which follows accompanied by a drawing showing for purely illustrative purposes an embodiment of this invention. It is to be understood, however, that the description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, the scope of this invention being defined in the appended claims. In the drawing 40 if pressed against valve seats 26 and 21.

(Cl. 10S-44) Fig. 1 is a plan view ofa pump embodying this invention, some parts being shown as broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the pump shown in Fig. 1, a section being taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the pump, a section being taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and' Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a pump casing I0 is formed by a body I I and a cover I2. 'I'he interior of the casing is subdivided into an upper or pumping chamber I3 and a lower operating chamber I4 by a perforate partition I5.

The two chambers of the pump are sealed against each other by a flexible pumping element, in the illustrated embodiment shown as being a diaphragm I6. The diaphragm I6 is securely held in place by means of bolts I1 extending through the cover I2 into the body I I and clamping the diaphragm near its outer edge.

The diaphragm is made of a material which will resist the liquid to be pumped, natural or synthetic rubber being suitable for many uses.

The cover I2 likewise is made of a resistant material such as corrosion resistant metal, glass, plastic, and the like, depending on the use for which the pump is intended.

The pumping chamber is provided with inlet and outlet ports I8 and I9 suitably leading to ducts and hose connections 20 and 2 I. The ports are controlled by valve members. In the illustrated example the valve members 22 and 23 are of the mushroom type and are mounted opposite The valves are controlled by cams 32 and 33 fixed on a shaft 34 which islmounted in bearings 35 and 36 of the body II. One bearing may be sealed against the outside by a threaded plug as shown at 31. The shaft extends through the other lbearing 36 which may be provided with a suitable seal such as a stumng box 38 and packing 39 to permit the shaft to be driven from the outside either manually or mechanically, a pulley 40 being shown for this purpose.

The main portion of the exible pumping element, the diaphragm I6, is periodically deflected by fluctuation in pressure produced in the operating chamber. This is conveniently accomplished by a piston movable in a cylinder com- 0 municating with the operating chamber. In the illustrated embodiment a cylinder 4i is mounted in a wall of the body Il. A piston 42 is mounted for reciprocating movement in the cylinder. The piston may be formed by two resilient sleeves 4l and M oi' leather or the like and a spacer 45, the assembly being held together by means of a bolt 4I. #A piston rod Il is connected to the piston bolt at Il and engages an eccentric 48 on the drive shaft N. Since both the eccentric and the cam are fixed on the shaft the movement of the valve is coordinated with the movement of the piston relatively to the cylinder.

Theroperating chamber is filled with a suitable non-compressible pressure fluid 50 to translate the piston movement into pressure iluctuations acting on the diaphragm IB. Castor oil or other oils which will not deteriorate the material of the diaphragm are suited as operating liquids, an incidental advantage being the lubrication of the moving parts of the pump immersed in the oil.

In order to replenish oil lost through leaks a reservoir may be provided. In the illustrated embodiment the casing lIl) contains a third chamber or reservoir 5l communicating with the operating chamber through a bleeder passage 52. The

bleeder passage 52 terminates at the highest point of the operating chamber where air or gas bubbles are likely to collect. At each double stroke of the piston a minute flow is set up between the reservoir in the operating chamber whereby .1&0

gas bubbles are expelled from the operating chamber and lost oil is replenished in the operating chamber.

In addition to the bleeder passage 52 a check valve may be provided to facilitate filling of the pump. The check valve in the illustrated embodiment contains a ball 53 held against a valve seat 5l by means of a spring 55 tlius permitting flow into but not out of the operating chamber.

The reservoir may be filled with a liquid through an aperture normally closed by a illling plug 5B. A further plug 51 may be provided to facilitate the mounting and assembling of the cylinder and piston arrangement.

The operation of the pump is as follows: In

the normal position in which the diaphragm lies against the perforate partition the intake valve is closed, the outlet valve is open, and the piston is in the outer end position (Fig. 2). As the pistonmoves toward the inner end position by rotation of the drive shaft a pressure is exerted on v.fats

Due to the positive operation of the valve in response to the piston movement foreign bodies A modiiled form of pump is shown in Fig. 4. 'I'he diaphragm I6' .ot the pump is tightly secured to the body Il' by means oi.' a ring member Il resting on the diaphragm adjacent its outer edge. The ring member'l is screwed to the body Il by bolts 60. A cover or dome shaped member I2' having -a machined edge or rim 8| rests on the diaphragm I i' and forms a pumping chamber-therewith, the cover I2 being forced against the diaphragm by yokes 52. Springs l2 are preferably arranged between the yokes I2 and the cover I2 equally to distribute the force exerted by the yokes. The yokes 62 are secured to the body Il by bolts 54 and wing nuts 65 permitting easy removal of the yokes and cover for inspection and cleaning of the last described .construction.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pump comprising in combination, a flexible pumping element; means associated therewith forming a pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet port over which ports said ilex-` ible element extends; movable valve members arranged to deflect the flexible element to open and seal said ports; a volume of liquidacting on said ilexible element for flexing said element; a movable piston acting on said liquid; and means for jointly moving said piston and positively moving said valve members.

2. A pump comprising in combination, a casing; a flexible element subdividing said casing into a pumping chamber andan operating chamber, the pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet port over which ports said ilexible element extends; movable valve members arranged to deflect said flexible element to open and seal said ports; a cylinder communicating with said operating chamber; a piston movable in said cylinder; operating fluid in said operating chamber to flex said element in dependence on the movement of said piston in said cylinder; and power operable means for jointly moving said piston and said valve members.

3. A pump comprising in combination, a casing; a exible diaphragm subdividing said casing into a pumping chamber and an operating chamber, the pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet port over which ports said flexible element extends; movable valve members arranged to deflect said diaphragm to open and seal said ports; a cylinder communicating with said operating chamber; a piston movable in said cylinder; operating fluid in said operating chamber to flex said diaphragm in accordance with the movement of said piston relatively to said cylinder thereby changing the volume of said pumping chamber; and a drive shaft operably connected with said piston and said valves to operi and close said ports in dependence on the position of the piston relatively to said cylinder.

4. A pump comprising in combination, means including a flexible pumping element forming a variable volume chamber having an inlet and an outlet port over which ports said flexible element extends; valve members acting on said flexible element for moving said element to open and close said ports; a volume of liquid m2121118 on said flexible element for flexing said element; a movable piston acting on said liquid; and

power operable means for jointly moving said piston and positively moving said valve members.

5. A pump comprising in combination, a casing having a perforate partition dividing the casing into a dome-shaped pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet port and an operating chamber; a flexible diaphragm on said partition sealing the pumping chamber against the operating chamber and extending over said ports, the diaphragm having freedom for deflection into said dome-shaped chamber if acted upon by a pressure in the operating chamber; two mushroom valves seated in said partition opposite said ports for forcing a portion of the diaphragm against the ports to seal the same; a cylinder communicating with said operating chamber; a piston movable in said cylinder; operating iiuid in said operating chamber to flex said diaphragm in response to movements of said piston; a drive shaft in said operating chamber; and means associated with said shaft for'moving said valves and piston by said shaft.

6. A'pump comprising in combination, a casing having a perforate partition dividing the casing into a dome-shaped pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet port and an operating chamber; a iiexible diaphragm on said partition sealing the pumping chamber against the operating chamber and extending over said ports, the diaphragm having freedom for deflection into said dome-shaped chamber if acted upon by a pressure in the operating chamber; two mushroom valves seated in said partition opposite said ports for forcing a portion of the diaphragm against the ports to seal the same; a reservoir; a cylinder connecting said reservoir with said operating chamber; a piston movable in said cylinder; operating fluid in said reservoir and said operating chamber to iiex said diaphragm in response to movements of said piston; a drive shaft; means associated with said shaft for moving said valves and piston from said shaft; and means forming a passage between said reservoir and said operating chamber including a check valve arranged to permit fiow into, but not out of, the operating chamber, and a bleeder passage leading to a portion of the operating chamber where bubbles are likely to collect.

1. A pump comprising in combination, a casing; a iiexible element subdividing said casing into a pumping chamber and an operating chamber,

the pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet port; valve means in said ports; a reservoir; a cylinder connecting said reservoir with said operating chamber; a piston movable in said cylinder; operating iiuid in said reservoir and said operating chamber to flex said diaphragm in response to movements of said piston; means for moving said piston in said cylinder; and means forming a bleeder passage between said reservoir and said operating chamber, the passage leading to a portion of the operating chamber where bubbles are likely to collect, whereby on actuation of the piston a minute iiow is set up between said operating chamber and said reservoir expelling bubbles and replacing lost fluid in the operating chamber.

8. A pump comprising in combination, a casing; a flexible element subdividing said casing into a pumping chamber and an operating chamber, the pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet port; valve means in said ports; a reservoir; a cylinder connecting said reservoir with said operating chamber; a piston movable in said cylinder; operating fluid in said reservoir and said operating chamber to flex said diaphragm in response to movements of said piston; means for moving said piston in said cylinder; and means forming a passage between said reservoir and said operating chamber including a check valve arranged to permit flow into, but not out of, the operating chamber, and a bleeder passage leading to a portion of the operating chamber where bubbles are likely to collect, whereby on actuation of the piston a minute flow is set up between saidoperating chamber and said reservoir expelling bubbles and replacing lost fluid in the operating chamber.

9. A pump comprising in combination, a casing; a ilexible pumping diaphragm; means including a ring member resting on said diaphragm adjacent its outer edge for sealing the diaphragm against said casing; a dome-shaped member resting on said pumping diaphragm and forming a pumping chamber therewith, said dome-shaped member having an inlet and an outlet port; a yoke bearing down on said dome-shaped member for sealing said dome-shaped member against said diaphragm; and means for securing said yoke to said casing.

10. A pump comprising in combination, a casing; a flexible pumping diaphragm; means including a ring member resting on said diaphragm adjacent its outer edge for sealing the diaphragm against said casing; a dome-shaped member resting on said pumping diaphragm and forming a pumping chamber therewith, said dome-shaped member having an inlet and an outlet port; a yoke bearing down on said dome-shaped member for sealing said dome-shaped member against said diaphragm; springs between said yoke and said dome-shaped member; and means for securing said yoke to said casing.

11. A pump comprising in combination, a casing; a iiexible pumping diaphragm; means including a ring member resting on said diaphragm adjacent its outer edge for sealing the diaphragm against said casing; a dome-shaped member resting on said pumping diaphragm and forming a pumping chamber therewith, said dome-shaped member having an inlet and an outlet port; movable valve members in said casing arranged to deiiect` said diaphragm into contact with said dome-shaped member to open and close said ports; a yoke bearing down on said dome-shaped member for sealing said dome-shaped member against said diaphragm; and means for securing said yoke to said casing.

12. A pump comprising in combination, a casing; a exible pumping diaphragm; means including a ring member resting on said diaphragm adjacent its outer edge for sealing the diaphragm against said casing; a dome-shaped member resting on said pumping diaphragm and forming a pumping chamber therewith, said domeshaped member having an inlet and an outlet port; movable valve members in said casing arranged to deflect said diaphragm into contact with said dome-shaped member to open and close said ports; a yoke bearing down on said domeshaped member for sealing said dome-shaped member against said diaphragm; springs between said yoke and said dome-shaped member; and bolts for securing said yoke to said casing,A

HANS C. BRUGGER. 

